1978-79 NBA Season Standings

The Seattle SuperSonics avenged their 1978 Finals loss to Washington, beating the Bullets 4-1 to win the title in a Finals rematch. Washington had the NBA's best record in the East, while Kansas City (Midwest) and San Antonio (Central) claimed division titles. Under this era's playoff format, the two division champions per conference were automatically seeded 1-2 (only Washington and Seattle actually had the best records outright), so Kansas City is ranked ahead of Phoenix in the West despite Phoenix's better record.

Basketball: Standings ▾

Sourcing caveat: 22 teams total this season (11 per conference). Division champions Kansas City and San Antonio were automatically seeded #2 in their conferences per the 1970s-era playoff format, even though Phoenix (West) had a better record than Kansas City — the rank order below reflects the official standings tables of the day, not a strict sort by GB.

Eastern Conference

SeedTeamWLPCTGB
1WBWashington Bullets5428.659-
2SASSan Antonio Spurs4834.5856
3P7Philadelphia 76ers4735.5737
4HRHouston Rockets4735.5737
5AHAtlanta Hawks4636.5618
6NJNNew Jersey Nets3745.45117
7NYKNew York Knicks3151.37823
8CCCleveland Cavaliers3052.36624
9DPDetroit Pistons3052.36624
10BCBoston Celtics2953.35425
11NOJNew Orleans Jazz2656.31728

Western Conference

SeedTeamWLPCTGB
1SSSeattle SuperSonics5230.634-
2KCKKansas City Kings4834.5854
3PSPhoenix Suns5032.6102
4DNDenver Nuggets4735.5735
5LALLos Angeles Lakers4735.5735
6PTBPortland Trail Blazers4537.5497
7SDCSan Diego Clippers4339.5249
8IPIndiana Pacers3844.46314
9MBMilwaukee Bucks3844.46314
10GSWGolden State Warriors3844.46314
11CBChicago Bulls3151.37821

Sources

Data last verified: 11 August 2026.

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